Rotary engine.



J. CLARK.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATIoN FILED 001,13, 190e.

ANDREW4 B. GRAHAM oo.. Priora-LlrsGRAPHERS, wasnm'eo. D. c.

J. CLARK.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED ooT.13.19oa.

Patented 001:. 5, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JAMES CLARK, OF MEDINA, NEW YORK.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1999.

Application led October 13, 1908. Serial No. 457,460.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Medina, in the county of Orleans and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful lotary Engine, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates more particularly to engines or motors of theturbine type, and designed to be operated by steam, 'though motive fluidof any suitable character may be employed.

The primary object is to provide a novel structure in which end thrustis materially reduced and the expansive force of the motive fiuid issecured.

A further object is to provide a motor or engine made up of parts, whichcan be readily constructed and easily assembled, the various elements orparts being entirely accessible for the purpose of repair or renewal.

@ne embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, but it will be clear from an inspection of the claims heretoappended that the invention is not limited solely to this structure.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional viewthrough the engine or motor structure. Fig.v 2 is an end view, withportions broken away to show the internal construction. Fig. 3 is adetail sectional view upon an enlarged scale, showing the manner ofmounting the blades and abutments. Fig. 4 is a sectional view at rightangles to Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a. perspective view of one of the blades.Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the filler blocks.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

1n the embodiment illustrated, a base 7 is employed provided with spacedstandards 8' carrying journal boxes 9, and at one end of the base islocated a casing 10 comprising a cylindrical wall that is composed ofsections 11 and end walls 12'and 13 secured to the cylindrical wall bybolts 14 or other fasteners. The vinner end wall 12 is provided with apacking gland or stufling box 15, and journaled in the boxes 9 is anengine shaft 16 that extends through the box 15 into the casing,terminating short of the end wall 13. Rings 17V of cast iron or othermaterial, are located in the box 15, and are provided in their oppositefaces with oil grooves to take the place of packing.

Located within the casing 10 is a partition comprising spaced walls 18and 19, these walls being carried respectively by the sections 11 of theperipheral wall and forming between them, an annular motive fluidchamber 2O having a suitable intake port 21 that may be located at anypoint around the casing. This partition thus forms spaced pistonchambers 22 in which operate rotary pistons 23 and 24. The piston 23comprises a disk 25 having a hub 26 that is threaded on the shaft, asshown at 27, and is abutted against a shoulder 28 formed on the shaft.This disk carries on one face only concentric rings of blades 28il thatare interposed between the disk 25 and the adjacent wall 18 of thepartition. Said wall is in like manner provided with concentric rings ofabutments 29 that are arranged between the rings of blades 28a. Theopposite wall 19 of the partition also has rings of outstandingabutments 30 between which operate rings of blades 31 carried by thedisk 32 of the piston 24. By reference particularly to Figs. 3 6inclusive, it will be noted that the blades and abutments are fittedinto channels 33 and 34 formed in the disks and partition wallsrespectively, and have outstanding ears 35 litting into grooves 36 thatopen through the sides of said channels. Filling blocks 37 areinterposed between the blades and abutments and also have outstandingretaining ears 38 engaged in said grooves.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 1 that the wall 19 of thepartition is shorter than the wall 18, and a sleeve 39, fitted into thewall 18 and disposed concentrically to the shaft, extends through thewall 19, and has an outstanding annular flange 40. Thus an annular port41 is produced through which the motive fluid can pass from the motivefluid chamber 2O to the inner portion of the outer piston 24. The flange40 and coacting face of the disk 32, have oil grooves 42, and clampedbetween the flange 40 and the wall 19 is a ring 43, which, as shown, inFig. 2, has a series of obliquely disposed ports 44 that direct themotive fluid from the port 41 against the inner ring of blades.

It will be noted by referenceY to Fig. 1 that the outer end wall 13 ofthe casing is spaced from the disk 32, and thus a channel or conduit 45is produced between the outer piston and said end wall of the casing.The outer piston disk 32 has its central portion formed of radial spokes46 forming ports 47 between them, and these ports thus constitute meansof communication between the space or channel 45 and the interior of thesleeve 39, while said sleeve communicates with the inner portion of thespace between the inner disk Q5 and the partition wall 1S. It will alsobe seen that said inner disk 25 is spaced from the end wall 12 of thecasing, thus forming a chamber or conduit 4S with which communicates anexhaust pipe 49 that may be placed in any convenient position about thecasing.

In actual practice, a comparatively great number of rings of blades andabutments are employed, the number in the present instance, beingreduced in order to show them on a sufficiently large scale to make thestructure intelligible. rlhe arrangement moreover is preferably, thoughnot necessarily such that the space between the outer piston disk andpartition wall tapers outwardly. In other words, the adjacent faces ofthe disk and wall are convergently disposed. It will be evident byreference to Fig. l that the motive fluid introduced through the intakeport 2l will pass inwardly through the chamber Q0 and port 41. It willhere be deflected by the ports 44 of the ring 43 against the innermostring of blades of the piston 24, and will pass therefrom to thesucceeding ring of abutments. It will thus successively act on the ringsof blades, and finally escape from the periphery of this piston. Here itwill be directed by the channel or conduit 45 inwardly, and passingthrough the inner portion of the piston 24 by means of the ports 47,will enter the interior of the sleeve 39. This sleeve will direct it tothe other piston 23, and it will in like manner pass outwardly,operating against t-he blades of the piston 23 during its passage,finally escaping through the exhaust 49. In this structure therefore, itwill be evident that end thrust will be materially reduced, because ofthe construction of the parts and the manner in which the motive fluidis passed through the motor. Moreover the parts can be readily producedand easily assembled, while access to them can be gained withoutdifliculty, inasmuch as the end walls of the casing can be removed andeither piston thus reached, the pistons being detachably mounted on theshaft preferably by.

being threaded thereon, as shown, though the manner of mounting is notessential.

F rom the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation andmany advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, without further description, and it will beunderstood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, andminor details of construction, may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a casing, two sets ofrelatively-movable buckets mounted therein, means'for directing themotive fluid in one direction parallel to the axis of rotation to act onone of the sets of buckets, and means for directing the exhaust fluidfrom the said set of buckets in the opposite direction parallel to theaxis of rotation to act on the second set of buckets, the first meanssurrounding the second means.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing, of a plurality ofrotary pistons therein having blades extending from their inner to theirouter portions, means located between the pistons for directing motivefluid to the inner portion of one piston, means'for taking such motivefluid from the outer portion of said piston and directing it to theinner portion of the next piston, the fluid directing portion of saidsecond means being surrounded by the first means, and means fordirecting said motive fluid from the outer portion of said next piston.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing, of a shaft locatedtherein, a pair of rotary pistons mounted on the shaft and having bladeson their opposing faces only, said blades extending from their inner totheir outer portions, means for directing motive fluid to the innerportion of one piston and directing it against the blades to the outerportion thereof, means for taking such motive fluid from the outerportion of said piston and directing it to the innermost blades of thenext piston, and means for directing saidl motive fluid against theblades of the next piston and delivering from the outer portion thereof.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing, of a plurality ofrotary pistons operating therein, said pistons being provided withblades and one of the same having a centrally disposed motive fluid porttherethrough, means for directing motive fluid against and past theblades of one of the pistons, and means for directing such motive fluidfrom the periphery of said piston inwardly to and through said port andthence parallel to the axis of rotation to the other piston.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing, of a plurality ofrotary pistons operating therein, said pistons being provided withblades, and one of the same having a motive fluid port through its innerportion, means for directing motive fluid to the inner portion of one ofthe pistons past the blades, and means for directing such motive fluidfrom the outer portion of said piston, inwardly through the port and tothe other piston.

G. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing, of spaced pistonsoperating therein, means for introducing motive fluid into the casingbetween the pistons and directing it to one of the same, and means fordirecting the motive fluid from said piston transversely through one ofthe pistons and to the other piston.

7. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing, of spaced pistonsoperating therein, means for introducing motive fluid into the casingbetween the pistons and direct-ing it to the inner portion of one of thesame, and means for directing such motive fluid from the outer portionof said piston to and transversely through the inner portion of the sameand to the other piston.

8. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing having anintermediate partition forming spaced piston chambers, of rotary pistonsoperating` in the chambers, means for introducing motive fiuid into thepartition and directing the same to one of the pistons, and means fordirecting the motive fluid from said piston through the partition to theother piston.

9. In a rot-ary engine, the combination with a casing having anintermediate partition forming spaced piston chambers, of rotary pistonsoperating in the chambers, means for introducing motive fiuid into thepartition and directing the same to one of' the pistons, and means fordirecting motive fluid from said piston through the same and through thepartition to the other piston.

l0. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing having' anintermediate partition forming spaced piston chambers, of rotary pistonsoperating in the chambers on opposite sides of' the partition, means forintroducing motive fluid into the partit-ion, a sleeve fitted in thepartition and constituting means for directing motive fluid to one ofthe pistons, and means for direct-ing the motive fluid from said pistoninto the sleeve, said sleeve directing' motive fluid to the otherpiston.

11. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing having anintermediate partition forming spaced piston chambers, the partitionhaving an annular motive fluid chamber and communicating with one of thepiston chambers, of a sleeve fitted into the partition and constitutingthe inner end wall of the motive fluid chamber, rotary pistons`operating in the piston chambers on opposite sides of the partition,one of the pistons receiving motive fluid from the motive fluid chamber,and means for directing' said motive fiuid from said piston into thesleeve, said sleeve directing' it to the other piston.

12. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing comprisingsections and a partition located within the casing and forming pistonchambers, said partition comprising spaced walls carried respectively bythe casing' sections and forming between them a motive fluid chamberthat communicates at its inner end with the inner portion of one of thepiston chambers, of rotary pistons located in the piston chambers onopposite sides of the partition and having' rings of blades, one of' thepistons receiving the motive fiuid from the motive fluid chamber, asleeve fitted in the partition and interposed between the pistons, oneof said pistons having a port communicating with the sleeve, and meansfor taking the motive fluid from the periphery of one of the pistons anddirecting it to the port and into the sleeve, said sleeve directing themotive fluid to the other piston. l

13. In a rotary engine, the combination with a easing comprising asectional cylindrical wall, end walls secured to the same and apartition comprising spaced walls carried respectively by the sectionsof the peripheral wall, said partition walls forming a motive fluidchamber between them, of rings of abutments projecting from the oppositesides of the partition, a sleeve fitted within the partition, a shaftprojecting into the sleeve, rotary pistons operating in the casing onopposite sides of the partition and having hubs secured to the shaft,rings of blades carried by the opposing faces of the pistons andoperating between the rings of abutments, means for directing motivefluid from the motive fluid chamber to the inner ring of blades of onepiston, said piston having spokes forming ports between them thatcommunicate with the sleeve, and means for directing the motive fluidfrom the outer ring of blades of said piston, through the ports and intothe sleeve, said sleeve directing such motive fluid to the inner ring ofblades of the other piston.

let. In a rotary engine, the combination with a base having spacedjournal boxes, of a casing located at one side of the boxes andcomprising an annular wall and end walls detachably secured to theannular wall, the inner end wall adjacent to the boxes having a packingbox alined with said boxes, a shaft j ournaled in the boxes andterminating short of' the outer end Walls of the casing, a pistonmounted on the shaft within the casing, and means for directing motivefluid to the piston. v

l5. In a rotary engine, the combination with a base having spacedjournal boxes, of a easing located at one side of the boxes and havingan intermediate partition forming spaced piston chambers, a shaftjournaled in the boxes and having a portion extending into the casing,spaced pistons secured to the shaft and operating in the pistonchambers, alternate rings of' blades and abutments secured to thepistons and the partition, means located in the partition for directingmotive fluid to the inner ring of blades of one piston, and means insaid casing for directing the motive fluid from the periphery of saidpiston to the inner portion of the other piston.

16. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing having a partitiontherein, forming spaced piston chambers and having a motive Huid chamberconnnunicating with the inner portion of one chamber, of rings ofabutments projecting from the opposite sides of the partition, spacedpistons operating in the chambers and having rings of blades on theiropposing sides that ope late between the rings of abutinents, the motivefluid chamber delivering motive fluid to the inner set of blades of onepiston, and means for taking such motive fluid from the outer ring ofblades of said piston, directing it through the inner portion of thepiston through the partition and to the inner ring of blades of theother piston.

17. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing having a motivefluid chamber, of a rotary piston operating in the casing and having aring of blades, a ring associatedwith the chamber and having a pluralityof motive fluid ports that deliver to the blades of the piston, and asleeve fitted in the casing and constituting the inner end wall of themotive fluid chamber, said sleeve constituting means for retaining theported ring in place.

18. In a rotary engine, the combination with a casing having a partitiontherein pro vided with a motive fluid chamber, of a rotary pistonoperating in the casing and coin-- prising a disk and blades carried bythe disk and interposed between the same and the partition, a portedring interposed between the inner portions of the partition and disk andconstituting means for directing the motive fluid from the chamberagainst the blades, and a sleeve fitted into the partition within and inspaced relation to the ring, said sleeve having a flange abutted againstthe ring to hold it in place. l

19. In an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a casing dividedinto high and low pressure stages, an annular inlet chamber disposedbetween the stages, relatively mov? able buckets in each stage, meansfor directing fluid from the inlet chamber in an aXial direction to acton the buckets in the high pressure stage, and means for returning theexhaust motive fluid in an aXial direct-ion to act on the buckets in thelow pressure stage, both said means being located between the axis ofrotation and the said buckets.

20. In an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a casing providedwith an annular partition and divided into high and low pressurecompartments, relatively movable buckets in each compartment, means forconducting steam along the outside `ofthe partition and in an axialdirection to supply the buckets in the high pressure compartment, andmeans for directing the steam from the first set of buckets through theinside of the said partit-ion to act upon the set of buckets in the lowpressure compartment.

In 4testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaffixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES CLARK.

Witnesses BERTRAM HARCOURT, ELIZABETH B, ALLEN.

